Farmhouse Green Plum

Chapter 571 Comparison

Luo Yanxing tsk-tsked, "I don't know why you like green so much. All your clothes are the same color. At first glance, I thought you were always wearing the same one."

"The colors are all different shades, aren't they? Onion green, willow green, emerald green, bean green, sky blue, azure blue, blue-green, duck egg blue, goose yellow, apricot yellow, and turmeric yellow. The colors are clearly very rich, and the styles are different too. How can you think they're the same..."

Before he could finish his words, he heard a familiar exclamation from below, "So expensive?!"

"It looks like Aunt Zhang." Song Ying said as he walked towards the corridor. He looked down and saw that it was indeed Xiaoxiang's mother, Zhang.

She was holding a piece of bright red flowered silk cloth, only a small part of it unfolded. Her brows were furrowed as she looked at the shop assistant, Xiao Cui, and said, "A piece of silk in the cloth shop only costs 500 coins, but you're asking for 5 taels of silver here. Are you deliberately taking advantage of us because we're poor?"

Beside her, Xiaoxiang looked around curiously, her eyes lingering on the beautiful ready-made clothes.

Xiao Cui smiled and said, "Auntie, you've misunderstood. The silk fabrics we have here are very different from those sold in cloth shops. Look at the texture. Our flowered silk is made from top-quality silk threads, with a fine texture and meticulous weaving."

Look at the patterns on it, they were all carefully embroidered by the embroiderer stitch by stitch, which took a lot of energy and time.

The silk cloth you mentioned that costs 500 wen per piece should be raw silk, with thick silk threads, rough and unsophisticated weaving, and plain colors.

Our floral silk is brightly colored and never fades. Look here, it's woven with two colors, so the price is naturally higher."

Zhang's brows were still furrowed tightly. "It shouldn't be so expensive. Five taels of silver is enough for a family like us to spend for half a year!"

After a pause, she softened her tone, "Can you give us a little less? We have acquaintances working at your Yunxiu Building, Song Erni, the second aunt of Song Ying from Huichun Hall. We are from the same village."

Xiao Cui smiled and said, "So they are from the same hometown as Dr. Xiao Song. What a coincidence! They are trying on clothes upstairs."

Zhang's expression froze for a moment. "Is that so? That's a coincidence."

"Aunt Zhang, Xiaoxiang." Song Ying and Luo Yanxing greeted them one after another, waved to them, and went downstairs.

Aunt Song followed her downstairs, "Sister Zhang, oh, I haven't seen you for a long time. You look better."

Faced with these ordinary polite words, Zhang couldn't smile. She didn't look good at all. If she looked closely, it was Song Erni who had undergone a drastic change.

In the past, Song Erni always looked haggard, with a sallow complexion, as thin as a bamboo pole, and no energy. She looked like she could be blown away by the wind. But after she went to the city to work, her skin became fair and rosy, and she became plump.

Well, who can blame me for having a good niece?

Thinking of this, she glanced at Song Ying and found that her clothes were a little different from usual. She exclaimed, "Song Ying, is this Shu brocade?"

In the past, she would not be able to recognize what Shu brocade was, as they were all silks and satins worn by wealthy families. But some time ago, Song Ying and Luo Yanxing brought Shu brocade back to their family, and she went to take a closer look.

Looking to the side, I saw the same thing on Luo Yanxing.

She was envious and sighed, "You two women are becoming more and more like the daughters of wealthy families. Now you are both wearing Shu brocade."

"We are different from the young ladies from rich families. Their silks and satins are given by their parents, but we earn money to buy them ourselves!" Luo Yanxing was proud and proud. She felt that she was much better than those young ladies!

Unlike her outspokenness, Song Ying said modestly, "I'm about to reach the age of marriage, so I thought of making a nice dress for my wedding dress. I'll buy it from our shop at cost price. Otherwise, we wouldn't be willing to spend money on it."

After saying this, Song Ying noticed that Zhang's expression became a little stiff. She pursed her lips and put away her little finger that was holding the silk cloth, as if she didn't want the cloth anymore.

She was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized that Xiaoxiang was about to get married, and the bright red silk cloth was either going to be used to make her a coming-of-age dress or a wedding gown.

The three of them played together since they were young and were born in the same year, so they were often compared with each other by the villagers.

When the three of them come of age one after another, the villagers will certainly compare them. By then, she and Yanxing will wear Shu brocade, while Xiaoxiang will wear silk. The villagers will definitely discuss it.

What's more, it was no secret in the village that Zhang had strongly prevented Xiaoxiang from interacting with them.

As her and Yanxing's lives became better and better, some people in the village started to laugh at Zhang behind her back. The contrast in clothing at the coming-of-age ceremony was so great that the villagers must have laughed at her even more fiercely.

Song Ying felt heavy in his heart. Gossip was like invisible arrows. It was not fatal, but it could hurt people invisibly.

But she had no choice. With their current financial resources, they could naturally give Xiaoxiang a piece of Shu brocade clothing.

But she can't.

According to etiquette, Uncle Song, Yang and other people are the ones she should be close to and respect. If she gives the gift to Xiaoxiang without them, she will be accused of being unfilial and not distinguishing between inside and outside.

Aunt Song stroked the flowered silk cloth and said, "This is good material, and the color is bright. It's perfect for these little girls. You guys go ahead and choose. I'll talk to the shopkeeper about the price later. I'll definitely give you the best deal."

Zhang smiled awkwardly and waved her hand, "Forget it, it's too expensive. We'll leave first. You guys get busy."

After saying that, he took Xiaoxiang away.

Luo Yanxing curled his lips, "Aunt Zhang is too proud. It's not like we don't lend her a favor."

Because they were outside, Song Ying didn't point it out. He just said to Xiao Cui, "Use the remaining fabric to make two purses for us. Make them delicate. One with orchids in a valley and the other with butterflies among flowers. Hmm, preferably three butterflies."

"Aren't we not allowed to use purses?" Luo Yanxing was puzzled. Common people had to wear plain Shu brocade, so they planned to use other silk threads to weave a silk ribbon and tie it around the waist.

"Xiaoxiang is getting married soon, so we might be very busy. Let's send two purses in advance."

"That's right." Luo Yanxing didn't think much about it. Xiaoxiang's wedding date was either in the twelfth month or the first month of the lunar year, which was the busiest time for the Shu brocade shop. She might not have time.

"Oh, I forgot to ask if she has set a date for her wedding."

The seventeenth day of the twelfth month is the only auspicious day in the winter month for coming of age.

A lot of people gathered at the Song family today, all to watch Song Ying's coming-of-age ceremony. Of course, some of them were also at the Luo family.

"Yang Lan, is it you who combs Song Ying's hair and puts in the hairpin, or your mother?" Qian asked with concern while cracking melon seeds.

Yang smiled and said, "I invited her master."

The expressions of Qian and others suddenly became a little subtle. When a farm girl comes of age, it is usually her mother or an old woman in the clan who has both good fortune and longevity who combs her hair and inserts a hairpin.

Li lost her husband and son, so she couldn't be considered blessed with a long and happy life, but Yang Lan raised Song Ying from when she was just a dozen months old, so she could be considered her mother. It was thought that she would be the one to comb her hair and insert the hairpins.

In just a moment, Qian's expression returned to normal, and a smile appeared on her face again. "You are really thoughtful. As the saying goes, once a teacher, always a father. Doctor Lin treats your daughter Song Ying with all his heart, just like your own mother. Asking her to comb your hair and put on the hairpins shows closeness."

"That's right." Yang nodded with a smile, feeling a little upset. Doctor Lin was just like her mother, wasn't she? She had even breastfed Song Ying!

No matter how unhappy she was, she couldn't show it.

Song Ying, this damn woman, is very cold-hearted now. For the sake of her son's future, she has to endure some grievances.

PS: I’ve been playing outside these two days, so I don’t know if I can code the updates for the 1st and 2nd. If not, I’ll make up for it on the 3rd.